I am Spartacus

A Young Tiffany: Future president?  Future Warrior?  or Future Swimsuit Model?  How about none of the above?

 Names matter.
I mean, they aren't everything.
But they matter.
For example....my name is Tiffany.  I have never met a Tiffany that is over two years older than me.  I know a million Tiffanys that are my own age.  My best friend growing up was named Tiffani.  Trendy right?
I found out two weeks ago that my parents didn't really have any other name picked out for me, and just sort of found it one day when they actually got to the point where they HAD to come up with a decision.  In fact, they picked my name out at a lamp store (seriously.) right before I was born because they couldn't both agree on any names.  Just like that.
My mom: "Hey Duane...you like this lamp?"
My dad: "Sure."
My mom: "It's called a Tiffany Lamp."
My dad: "Cool"
My mom: "What do you think about that?"
My dad: "I think they can name a lamp anything they want."
My mom: "No, for a girl's name."
My dad: "Oh.  That sounds nice."

And so it was.
I also found out that my younger brothers were going to be named "Erin" or "Hannah" had they been born with two X chromosomes.

Those are such classy, sophisticated, smart, lovely names.
Kind of like "Tiffany."
Just kidding.
When was the last time the heroine in a movie was named "Tiffany?"  When was the last time someone who wasn't blonde and a little dumb was named "Tiffany" in a Hollywood flick?
Do you really think a "Tiffany" will ever become Secretary of State in our lifetime? (Of course, Hilary I guess could have had the same argument.)

I thought about changing my name as a child.  I remember I really liked the name "Lindsey".  Remember when Phoebe from Friends changed her name to "Princess Consuela Bananahammock"?  I could have been blessed with a powerful name like Yolanda, or Pink, or Spartacus.  

I don't blame my parents.  They didn't know.  I mean, what's not beautiful and sophisticated about our favorite stained-glass lamps that frequent the decor of our local saloons, bars, and pool halls?
I blame the movie industry.
My parents had no way of knowing.

As a temporary resident of the European Union, my name has sort of taken on a new meaning.  Once I leave the Center where we work and live I come across people everyday that are surprised by my name.  They've never heard it, or met anyone with it.  The other day someone told me they could tell in my email that I was American because I had such an "American name."  Who knew? Here there are no stereotypes attached to my name and I get to pave the way for Tiffanys in this tiny little corner of this tiny little island.  I get to decide how Tiffanys that come after me are perceived and received.  I sort of like the idea of this...

Which has me thinking a lot about names for this baby.
I had a whole list of names that I loved from before.  Some were popular names and some were old fashioned.  But now I'm looking at Irish names.  Because someday we'll go home to middle America and he or she will have this special Irish citizenship.
And maybe people will be able to tell by the signature at the bottom of an email that there is a pretty unique story to tell about the beginning of his or her life.
Names may not make the person, but they can create a pretty awesome tagline.